> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.zerotwo.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Deep Research Overview

> ZeroTwo's multi-step research engine that plans, crawls, and synthesizes the web into a comprehensive, editable Canvas report.

Deep Research is ZeroTwo's most powerful information-gathering tool. Where a standard web search retrieves a handful of results in seconds, Deep Research plans a full research agenda, executes dozens of targeted queries via Firecrawl, and delivers its findings as a structured, editable Canvas document.

***

## What makes Deep Research different

|                  | Web Search                     | Deep Research                                        |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------- |
| **Scope**        | A few top results per query    | Dozens of sources across many queries                |
| **Process**      | Instant, automatic             | Plan → approve → crawl → report                      |
| **Output**       | Inline response with citations | Structured Canvas document (exportable)              |
| **Time**         | Seconds                        | 2–10 minutes                                         |
| **User control** | None — just send               | Review and edit a research plan before it runs       |
| **Best for**     | Quick lookups, current events  | Analysis, reports, literature reviews, due diligence |

Deep Research is powered by **Firecrawl**, a comprehensive web crawling engine that reads full page content, follows relevant links, and synthesizes findings across many sources into a coherent report.

***

## The workflow

<Steps>
  <Step title="Enable the Deep Research pill">
    Click the **Deep Research** pill in the prompt bar. It highlights to indicate it is active.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Describe your research goal">
    Write a clear description of what you want to research. Be specific about scope, timeframe, and what you want to learn. Send the message.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review and approve the research plan">
    ZeroTwo generates a structured plan showing the main research areas, key questions to answer, source types to explore, and expected report structure. You can approve as-is, edit topics, add constraints, or specify particular sources before research begins.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Research runs automatically">
    Once approved, ZeroTwo runs the research autonomously. A progress indicator shows current status (e.g., "Searching for market data...", "Reading competitor websites..."). You can navigate away — research continues server-side.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Receive the report">
    The completed report is delivered as a Canvas document in the chat. It includes an Executive Summary, topical sections with inline citations, a Conclusion, and a numbered Sources list.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Iterate and refine">
    Ask follow-up questions in the chat: "Expand the pricing section," "Add a comparison table," "Translate to Spanish," "What does this mean for my startup?" ZeroTwo can modify the Canvas document in response.
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## When to use Deep Research

Deep Research is the right tool when you need **breadth and synthesis** across many sources — not just a quick answer.

**Strong use cases:**

* Competitive intelligence ("Analyze the top 5 project management tools — pricing, features, and positioning")
* Academic research ("What does the literature say about the gut-brain axis and mental health?")
* Industry analysis ("What are the current trends shaping the electric vehicle market?")
* Due diligence ("What is the public history, reputation, and key facts about Company X?")
* Market research ("What are the pain points and buying patterns of mid-market SaaS buyers?")
* Travel planning ("Plan a detailed 2-week Japan itinerary including budget and transportation")
* Policy research ("What regulations govern AI-generated content in the EU?")

**Not ideal for:**

* Quick factual lookups — use Web Search instead
* Real-time data like live prices or scores — use Web Search instead
* Single-source document retrieval — use PDF focus mode in Web Search

***

## Report structure

Every Deep Research report follows a consistent format:

1. **Executive Summary** — 1–2 paragraph overview of key findings
2. **Main sections** — 3–8 topical sections with subheadings, prose, and inline citations
3. **Conclusion** — key takeaways and implications
4. **Sources** — numbered list of every URL referenced

The report is delivered as an editable **Canvas document** — fully editable rich text you can modify directly, ask ZeroTwo to rewrite, export as PDF or DOCX, or share via a link.

***

## Plan availability

| Plan           | Deep Research allowance |
| -------------- | ----------------------- |
| **Free**       | 1 per day               |
| **Pro**        | Higher daily limit      |
| **Pro 2x**     | Higher daily limit      |
| **Plus Ultra** | Highest limit           |
| **Business**   | Team-level limits       |

<Info>
  Only one active Deep Research session can run at a time. Starting a new session while one is in progress may interrupt the current one. Daily limits reset at midnight UTC.
</Info>

***

## Quick Links

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="When to Use Deep Research" icon="check" href="/tools/deep-research/when-to-use-deep-research">
    Examples of ideal and non-ideal use cases
  </Card>

  <Card title="Research Planning Workflow" icon="layers" href="/tools/deep-research/research-planning-workflow">
    Step-by-step guide to the plan → approve → report workflow
  </Card>

  <Card title="Report Output Format" icon="file-text" href="/tools/deep-research/report-output-format">
    Report structure, Canvas delivery, and export options
  </Card>

  <Card title="Limits and Availability" icon="clock" href="/tools/deep-research/limits-and-availability">
    Plan limits, session constraints, and timing details
  </Card>
</CardGroup>